about his learning disability, the courtships would end. Tiny Alfred University, in Upstate New York, took a chance.

"I didn't want to be a statistic," Burkhart said. "I didn't want to be someone who fell through the cracks.

"At Alfred, I was taken care of. I had tutors. They had a great program."

He graduated in 1986 with a business marketing degree.

Chasing a dream

[square]ºAfter averaging 24.8 points as a senior at Alfred, Burkhart got some looks in minor league and international basketball.

In 1992, he found his niche.

He would be a loser for a living -- quite a good living, at that.

Burkhart was one of 100 players attending a tryout for the Washington Generals, the punching bag for the Harlem Globetrotters. Eight, including Burkhart, made the team.

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How out of character. Burkhart proudly considers himself a mean dude when it comes to competing between the lines.

"Before a (high school) game, I'd go up to the guy guarding me and ask if his mom and dad were in the stands," Burkhart said. "He'd say, 'Huh?' 'Are your mom and dad in the stands?' He'd say, 'Yeah.' I'd say, 'Do they have a notebook?' He'd say, 'Huh?' I'd say, 'They better have a notebook, because they're going to learn a lot tonight.' Then, I'd smile and pat him on the butt."

In 12 years with the Generals, 10 as player-coach, Burkhart was paid quite well for being a lovable loser. At the height of his career, for 10 months on the road all across the world, Burkhart made between $90,000 and $95,000. That doesn't count all travel expenses and a daily per diem.

"I was able to handle making (the Globetrotters) look good because every Friday there was a real good paycheck," Burkhart said.

Officially, the Globetrotters haven't lost since 1972. When push came to shove -- and it often did, behind closed doors -- the 'Trotters were a bit less invincible.

"During our (preseason) training at Disney (World), we'd lock the doors, get refs, turn on the scoreboard and go at it," Burkhart said. "Hey, 'No more show, baby. Just basketball.' There were a few fights. It was physical. We beat them a few times."

A new chapter

And then came golf.

There comes a time in a man's life when he feels the need to settle down. Twelve years of bright lights, NBA venues and remote outposts, opportunities for a wild nightlife and the general lack of stability that comes with being a highly-paid vagabond will get to a guy.

Burkhart got off the wild ride in 2004, and went looking for another direction in his life.

It's not like he'd always been in love with chasing a dimpled ball down a fairway. He hadn't played his first round of golf until he was 23.

"I saw people who had the ability but still failed," Burkhart said. "I'm not that person. I've always had a goal. After basketball, my goal was to run a golf course efficiently.

"Golf is so much about the relationships with people. It's the perfect business for me."

People don't just decide to be PGA professionals one day and get a job the next.

In terms of playing, he developed his game to the point where he was a scratch golfer.

"At first, I couldn't play dead in a cowboy movie," Burkhart said, referring to his struggles on the links. "If you can't shoot a basketball, what do you do? You practice. Same thing with golf."

OK, so much for the playing part. But, there's also a three-tiered battery of 11 tests that covered every aspect of the business of running a golf course.

A lesser man may have been overwhelmed.

Once again, Burkhart dealt with failure, but refused to accept it. Over 18 months, he was sent home three times in the first level before finally passing; and twice in the second level. By the third test, which lasted about 12 hours, Burkhart was spent.

"I remember sitting in the lobby, exhausted," Burkhart said. "Two instructors came up to me and said, 'Tim, you passed.' I was so emotional. I've never been so proud of anything."

Why Plymouth?

By 2006, Burkhart was a Class A PGA professional with a very unique background and a spirit that wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

That seems to make for a rather solid hire.

He started his golf career as the head pro on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He spent some time near Asheville, N.C., then worked near Evansville before coming to Plymouth in May.

Tops on his present priority list are Lisa, his wife of five years, and sons Matthew (4 years old) and Nathan (8 months).

"Coming to Plymouth was a great opportunity to come to a nice club and be able to put my children in a good environment," Burkhart said. "My goal now is to give them a chance to be successful. I've had my time."

Random thoughts

[square]ºIn an effort to maintain the appearance of the integrity of competition between the Globetrotters and the Generals, the teams always stay in different hotels.